Belgian race organizer Marc Duquesnoy has been given a three-month suspended sentence following the death of rider Stef Loos at the 2019 Grand Prix Alfred Gadenne.
During the race in the Belgian town of Tournai, Stef Loos and approximately 30 other cyclists deviated from the course and entered open traffic, where they were hit by a van. This resulted in the tragic death of the 19-year-old cyclist and injuries to two others.
The court found Duquesnoy guilty of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary injuries, attributing the accident to organizational shortcomings during the race. These shortcomings included an insufficient number of route marshals and inadequate signage.
During the trial in Tournai, the prosecution initially sought a 12-month sentence, with six months suspended. However, Duquesnoy argued that responsibility for the errors should be shared among the parties involved in organizing the race. He also pointed out that local police had approved the race despite the deficiencies in on-course marshals.
In his statement, Duquesnoy expressed remorse for the tragedy, stating, “I have organized more than 500 races. What happened remains on my heart. But I cannot be responsible and guilty for everything. Until I die, I will-think about this tragedy.”
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